Lima, OH Tornado History — 94 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Lima, OH had?
Lima has had 94 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 10 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Lima?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lima was an EF0 on July 19, 2025.
When is tornado season in Lima?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lima, with 18 on record. April through June account for 52 of the 94 tornadoes on record near Lima.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Lima
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 42 total, averaging 2.1 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Lima since December 29, 2025
This is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
EF0 tornado with maximum winds of 85 MPH. Damage to outbuildings at two properties on US Route 33. (ILN)
Within 25 miles of Lima. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Lima
3 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Lima and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 2, 2025 and the most recent on July 19, 2025. They are already counted in the Lima totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
An EF0 tornado was confirmed in Shelby County... OH from storms that occurred the evening of July 19th... 2025... based on video and drone footage evidence. Damage to c (ILN)
A second tornado spun up north of the decaying Van Wert tornado... touching down in far southeast Paulding County. The tornado severely damaged a pole barn as it moved (IWX)
A tornado touched down on the southeast side of Van Wert... OH where tree and shingle damage occurred before the tornado destroyed a two-story barn structure. The torna (IWX)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Lima
21 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Lima since 1950, across 4 events. 322 injuries have been reported across all events. 1965 was the deadliest year on record near Lima.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which caused 13 fatalities along a 32.5-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Lima
What the record shows near Lima
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Lima, with 21 of the 94 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 18 so far. The Lima record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Lima, 75 reached EF0 or EF1 and 18 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Lima is rated EF4, of which 3 are logged. A further 1 near Lima is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Lima has averaged 2.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 42 in total. 2023 was the busiest of them with 6, and 6 of those years passed with none at all.